BUFFALO, N.Y. – Despite their record of 1-4-2 over the last seven games, the Devils have at least one reason to be pleased.

Center Andrei Loktionov, acquired on Feb. 6 from the Los Angeles Kings for a fifth-round draft choice in 2013, has begun to settle in as the first-line center with five points (three goals, two assists).

“He’s good. Very patient with the puck. He makes plays,” linemate Ilya Kovalchuk said. “I think Pete (DeBoer) has started trusting him more defensively, so I think he was a really good addtion for us.

“He never got a chance in L.A. I think it’s great he’s getting an opportunity to play here on the top two lines.”

Loktionov scored the Devils’ third goal today on a blind backhand pass from Stefan Matteau, which allowed them to get one point in the shootout loss.

“It’s nice to score a goal,” Loktionov said. “If you win it would be much better.”

* * *

On the other hand, things are not going well for right winger Bobby Butler. For the second straight game, Butler found himself on the bench for most of the night.

He was credited in the official stats with one two-second shift in the third period, but it went unnoticed. So what has Butler done in the last two games to merit being benched?

“I’m not targeting him. Just trying to get wins, that’s all,” DeBoer said.

* * *

DeBoer said there is no change in the status of Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, who is on injured reserve with a sore back.

Brodeur is not likely to join the Devils in Toronto, where the team faces the Maple Leafs Monday night at the Air Canada Centre.

Ryan Carter returned to the lineup after missing four games with a concussion. He skated with Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier.

“I felt good,” Carter reported. “The first period was just to get back into it. The second period it was back to normal.”

It was a sometimes-chippy game filled with cross checks and hits that sent a handful of players skating back to the bench in pain. Kovalchuk and Patrick Kaleta had a first period battle which resulted in both getting roughing minors.

When they left the penalty boxes, Kovalchuk checked Kaleta into the boards and then chopped the Sabres forward's stick as he followed the Devils' winger across the ice. As they continued to battle, Kovalchuk eventually took a high-sticking penalty at 14:38.

However, when Robyn Regehr cross-checked Kovalchuk to the ice with 27 seconds left in the third period, no penalty was called.

“It’s part of the game. I hoped the refs would see it but nobody’s perfect.”

What did DeBoer think of the penalties called and not called?

“Don’t ask me,” he answered. “Two teams fighting for points. There is going to be a lot of desperation hockey here down the stretch, so I’m not surprised.”